Hydraulic motor



G. WEBER.

HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I7, 1919.

1,354,231 Patented Sept. 28, 1920.-

3 SHEETSSHEET 1- I ijwuawtoz G. WEBER.

HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1919.

1,354,231, Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

mb m 8/140 e 4:4 Geozye Mafia)? G. WEBER.

HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17. m9.

1 ,354 ,231 Pamntedsept. 28, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE WEBER, OF STUART, NEBRASKA.

HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application filed October 17, 1919. Serial No. 331,256.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnoncn WEBER, a citizcn of the United States,residin at Stuart, in the county of Holt and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Motors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a hydraulic motor.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofhydraulic motors and to provide a simple, practical, and efficienthydraulic motor equipped with a water wheel adapted to furnish a maximumamount of power and provided with automatically operating bucketsadapted under the action of the water to assume an operative positionfor driving the water wheel and capable of automatically closing whennot subjected to the action of the water wherebyfriction is reduced to aminimum.

It is also an object of the invention to pro vide means adapted topermit water to actuate the buckets at one side of the water wheel andat the same time enable the returning buckets at the opposite side ofthe wheel to travel out of the water from the point where the water isdischarged from the race-way to the point where the buckets are againacted on by the water.

The invention also has for its object to provide a track for supportingthe movable members of the buckets while they are sub jected to theaction of the water in the raceway, and also to enable the buckets totravel 'frictionlessly over a track in the bucket return way in theevent of the breakage of the supporting spring of a bucket.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claimshereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, but within the scopeof the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like characters of reference designatecorresponding parts in the several figures:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hydraulic motor constructed in accordancewith this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the hydraulic motor, on theline IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the water wheel.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the buckets.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated one embodiment ofthe invention, the water wheel of the hydraulic motor comprises in itsconstruction a horizontal rotary wheel 1 and an annular series of waterbuckets 2 depending from the outer portion of the wheel and arranged tooperate in a substantially annular channel formed in reinforced concreteor other suitable material and providing a curved raceway 3 and a curvedbucket return channel a. The concrete may be reinforced in any desiredmanner and masonry may of course be employed where desired, and theannular channel is provided with an inner annular wall 5 and an outersubstantially annular wall 6 having a water outlet 7 and connected atsubstantially a diametrically opposite point with side walls 8 of afiume 9. The flume 9 extends from a dam 10 located at a body of water 11adapted to furnish the power for operating the water wheel. Thehydraulic motor may be of any desired size, and the proportions inpractice will be constructed with reference to the character of the workto be performed and the head of water at the dam 10. The flume isprovided with an outlet 12 formed between one of the walls of the flumeand a transverse abutment or wall 13, and the said fiume outlet iscontrolled by a swinging water gate 14 hinged at one side of the fiumeat 15 and controlled by suitable operating mechanism which may consistof a rod or member 16 and an operating wheel 17 carrying a nut 18 forengaging threads 19 of the rod or member 16.

The rod or member 16 is pivoted at 20 to the flume gate and theoperating wheel is mounted in suitable bearings at the juncture of theouter wall of the annular channel and the adjacent side wall of theflume. The fiume gate 14 is curved and serves as a defleeting member fordirecting the water from the fiume toward the buckets in the raceway.

Any other suitable operating means may of course be provided for openingand closing the flume gate, and in practice suitable means will beprovided for controlling the flow of water through the dam 10.

The wheel 1 comprises a central hub 21, a channeled rim 22 andoppositely inclined radially arranged spokes 23, but the spokes may bearranged in any other desired manner, and other spokes may be employedwhere greater strength is required, and in practice various other formsof wheel structures may be embodied in the water wheel. The hub issuitably secured to a vertical wheel shaft 24 stepped at its lower endin a bearing 25 having a ball 26 to receive the lower end of the wheelshaft 24. The bearing 25 is suitably secured upon a central support 27arranged within and concentrically with the inner annular wall 5' of theconcrete structure. The vertical wheel shaft is arranged at its upperportion within a bearing 28 provided with antifriction rollers 29-andsecured to the inner ends of inclined radially flanged braces 30 whichare suitably secured at their outer ends to the outer wall of theannular channel. The outer ends of the inclined braces 30 are arrangedupon the upper edge of the outer wall 6 and while three are shown in theaccompanying drawings, any desired number may of course be employed.Also any otherform of antifriction bearings may be provided for mountingand supporting the vertical wheel shaft.

The wheel 1 is equipped at the lower face of the rim 22 with ahorizontal ring 31 ex; tending from the outer edge of the bottom flangeof the channeled. rim to a point slightly beyond the plane of theouterface of the inner wall 5 and supporting the depending buckets 2which are suitably secured to the horizontal supporting ring 31. Eachbucket comprises relatively fixed and movable members, the fixed memberconsisting of a vertical end wall 32, inner and outer side walls 33 and34, and a top wall 35 which is suitably fastened to the lower face ofthe horizontal supporting ring 31. The movable member comprises a bottomplate 36 hinged at one end at 37 to the transverse end wall 32 at thelower edge thereof and provided with inner and outer side flanges 38 and39 constituting partial walls and extending longitudinally of the bottomplate 36 to within a short distance of the free end of the bottom plate.The bottom plate is adapted to swingupwardly and downwardly and when notsubjected to the action of the water of the race-way is maintained in anelevated position by a tension spring 40 secured atone end to the topwall 35 and connected at the other end to the bottom plate 36 in anydesired manner. The bucket may be of any desired size and it is arranged'in spaced relation with the bottom 41 of the race-way, the distancebetween the lower edge of the transverse end wall 32 and the bottom ofthe race-way at X being preferably about one and one-half times thedepth of the fixed part of the bucket, but the size of the bucket andthe proportions of the parts may be varied, as will be readilyunderstood. The bottom of the race-way is oppositely inclined at 42 andthe free end of the hinged plate or member 36 is tapered at 43 toconform to the configuration of the bottom race-way, and the said freeend of the plate or member 36 is provided with a roller or wheel 44suitably mounted on the said plate or member 36 and arranged to run upona rail 45 located in a groove 46 in the bottom of the annular channeland adapted to support the free end of the bottom plate or member 36 inclose spaced relation with the bottom portion and inclined portions 42of the race-way while the buckets are subjected to the action of thewater. The-free terminal portion of the bottom plate or member 36 of onebucket underlaps the hinged end of the bottom plate or member of theadjacent bucket, as shown in Fig. 4, when the hinged bottom plates ormembers are supported in an elevated position by the springs as when thebuckets are, traveling through the return passage'or portion 4 of theannular channel. The hinged bottom plates or members of the buckets areinclined when the buckets are subjected to the action of the water andmaximum speed and power are imparted to the water wheel by the waterowing to the elimination of the greater portion of the friction by thetrack and the wheels and rollers and also by the return of the bucketsin an elevated position out of contact with they water. The race-wayinclines downwardly from the flume to the outlet 7 and the wheel isactuated by the pressure of the head of water and also by the'fall ofwater due to the inclination of the race-way and the pivoted bottomplates or members of the buckets automatically maintain a properrelation to the inclined bottom of the raceway and move downwardly asthey progress alon the inclined bottom of the race-way. The rail 45 ispreferably channeled as shown, and in event of the breakage of a bucketthe roller or wheel thereof will run on the rail 45 which is continuousand which will guide the bucket through the return passage or portion 4of the annular channel to the head of the raceway. The inner side walls33 of the bucket form a practically continuous inner wall around thewater wheel, while the outer walls 34 provide openings to permit thewater to enter the water buckets as they pass into the upper end of therace-way.

The return passage or portion 4 of the annular channel inclines upwardlyfrom the outlet 7 and a shoulder 47 is formed at the upper end of thereturn passage or portion 4 and provides a wall for preventing the fiumewater from flowing down the said return portion or passage 4. This notonly avoids loss of water but prevents the water from retarding thereturn of the buckets to the race-way.

The power may be transmitted from the vertical wheel shaft by bevelgears 48 and 49 which connect the Vertical shaft with a horizontal powershaft 50 j ournaled in suitable bearings 51 and 52 and equipped at itsouter end with a pulley 53 for the reception of a belt, not shown. Anyother suitable means may of course be employed for transmitting thepower of the water wheel from the wheel shaft to the machine or other device to be operated! To facilitate repairs to the underside of the waterwheel and its bearings and to permit access to the bearings withoutremoving the wheel and to provide for drainage from within the innerannular wall 5, I provide an opening 55 in the latter. This opening maybe of any convenient form or size.

If desired, the buckets may be braced in any suitable manner, as forinstance, each by a brace 54: extending from the part 32 of each bucketto the horizontal annular member 31.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of depending buckets comprising relatively fixedstationary sections or members and movable sections or members hinged tothe fixed sections or members, and means for normally urging the movablesections upwardly whereby the said movable sections will be elevatedautomatically when not subjected to the action of the water.

2. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of depending buckets comprising relatively fixedstationary sections or members and movable sections or members hinged tothe fixed sections or members, means for normally urging the movablesections upwardly whereby the said movable sections will be elevatedautomatically when not subjected to the action of the water, and a railarranged to receive and support the movable sections or members when thebucket is subjected to the action of the water.

3. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of depending buckets comprising relatively fixedstationary sections or members and movable sections or members hinged tothe fixed sections or members, and springs connecting the movable andstationary sections or members for urging the movable sections ormembers upwardly,

4. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of depending buckets comprising relatively fixedstationary sections or members and movable sections or members hinged tothe fixed sections or members, springs connecting the movable andstationary sections or members for urging the movable sections ormembers upwardly, rollers or wheels carried by the movable sections ormembers, and a rail arranged to receive the rollers or wheels when themovable sections are subjected to the action of the water.

5. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of buckets each comprising a station ary sectionhaving inner and outer walls and provided with a transverse end wall,and a bottom plate or member-hinged bot-ween the inner and outer wallsand movable upwardly and downwardly, the outer walls of the bucketsbeing arranged in spaced relation to permit the entrance of water.

6. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of buckets each comprising a stationary section havinginner and outer walls and provided with a transverse end wall, a bottomplate or member hinged between the inner and outer walls and movableupwardly and downwardly, the outer walls of the buckets being arrangedin spaced relation to permit the entrance of water, and the inner wallsof the buckets forming substantially a continuous inner wall around thewheel.

7 A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of buckets each comprising a stationary section havingan end wall and provided with inner and outer side walls, and a movablebottom plate or member hinged between the said side walls, the bottomplates or members of the buckets being arranged in overlapping relation;

8. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withan annular series of buckets each comprising a stationary section havingan end wall and provided with inner and outer side walls, and a movablebottom plate or member hinged between the said side walls, the bottomplates or members 01 the buckets being arranged in overlapping relation,means for normally urging the hinged bottom plates or members upwardly,and guiding means for supporting the bottom plates or members when thesame are swung downwardly.

9. A device of the class described including a water wheel provided withbuckets each comprising a stationary section having side walls and aconnecting end wall, and a bottom plate or member hinged between saidside walls and arranged to swing upwardly and downwardly and providedwith side flanges adapted to limit the upward swing of the bottom plateor member, means for normally urging the bottom plate or memberupwardly, and a rail arranged to support the bottom plate when the sameis moved downwardly by the action of the water.

10. A device of the class described including a water wheel providedwith buckets having hinged bottom plates or members provided withtapered free terminal portions and a race-way having an oppositelyinclined bottom conforming to the contour of the pivoted plates ormembers when the latter are swung downwardly.

11. A device of the class described including an annular channelprovided with an outlet and forming a race-way at one side of the outletand a return passage at the other. side of the outlet, a rail arrangedat the bottom of the channel, a water wheel provided with buckets havinghinged bot tom plates or members having means to run on the said rail,and means for urging the bottom plates or members upwardly.

12. A device of the character described including an annular channelprovided with an outlet and having a race-way at one side of the outletand a return passage or channel at the other side of the outlet, saidraceway and return passage being inclined and the channel, beingprovided ,at the upper ends of the said race-way and passage with ashoulder forming a wall for preventing water from entering the returnpassage, a flume connected with the annular channel at the upper ends ofthe race-way and return passage and provided with a wall or abutmentforming an outlet, a hinged water controlling and defiectinggatearrangedat the said outlet, and a water wheel having buckets operatingin the annular channel.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.- GEORGE WEBER.

